Titanic (musical)
| Titanic | |
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| Original Cast Recording | |
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| Music | Maury Yeston |
| Lyrics | Maury Yeston |
| Book | Peter Stone |
| Basis | The sinking of the RMS Titanic |
| Productions | 1997 Broadway 1999 U.S. Tour 2002 Germany, Hamburg 2006 Toronto 2006 Australia 2007 Japan |
| Awards | Tony Award for Best Musical Tony Award for Best Score Tony Award for Best Book |
Titanic is a musical with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and a book by Peter Stone that opened on Broadway in 1997. It won five Tony Awards including the award for Best Musical. Titanic is set on the ocean liner RMS Titanic which sank on its maiden voyage on April 15, 1912.
Contents
Background
The discovery of the wreckage of the RMS Titanic in 1985 attracted Yeston's interest in writing a musical about the famous disaster. "What drew me to the project was the positive aspects of what the ship represented – 1) humankind's striving after great artistic works and similar technological feats, despite the possibility of tragic failure, and 2) the dreams of the passengers on board: 3rd Class, to immigrate to America for a better life; 2nd Class, to live a leisured lifestyle in imitation of the upper classes; 1st Class, to maintain their privileged positions forever. The collision with the iceberg dashed all of these dreams simultaneously, and the subsequent transformation of character of the passengers and crew had, it seemed to me, the potential for great emotional and musical expression onstage."[1]
Stone and Yeston knew that the idea was an unusual subject for a musical. "I think if you don't have that kind of daring damn-the-torpedos, you shouldn't be in this business. It's the safe sounding shows that often don't do well. You have to dare greatly, and I really want to stretch the bounds of the kind of expression in musical theater," Yeston explained.[2] Yeston saw the story as unique to turn-of-the-century British culture, with its rigid social class system and its romanticization of progress through technology. "In order to depict that on the stage, because this is really a very English show, I knew I would have to have a color similar to the one found in the music of the great composers at that time, like Elgar or Vaughan Williams; this was for me an opportunity to bring in the musical theater an element of the symphonic tradition that I think we really haven't had before. That was very exciting."[2]
The high cost of Titanic's set made it impossible for the show to have traditional out of town tryouts. Titanic's previews began at Broadway's Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in 1997 with major technical troubles: ironically, during previews the model ship onstage would not sink. These difficulties were mostly resolved by opening night, but the show received mostly negative reviews. The New Yorker's was a rare positive assessment from the New York press: "It seemed a foregone conclusion that the show would be a failure; a musical about history's most tragic maiden voyage, in which fifteen hundred people lost their lives, was obviously preposterous.... Astonishingly, Titanic manages to be grave and entertaining, somber and joyful; little by little you realize that you are in the presence of a genuine addition to American musical theatre."[3]
Nevertheless, the show became a surprise hit. Many credit at least part of the show's success to former talk show host Rosie O'Donnell who championed the show, featuring members of the original cast on her daytime talk show and giving away tickets to members of her studio audience. The show got a further boost when it won the 1997 Tony Award for Best Musical among other awards. The release of James Cameron's film Titanic in December 1997 helped fuel worldwide interest in the disaster, and the Broadway production continued through much of 1998 drawing huge crowds.
Productions
Titanic opened on April 23, 1997 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre and ran for 804 performances and 26 previews, closing on March 21, 1999. Directed by Richard Jones with choreography by Lynne Taylor-Corbett, the cast included Michael Cerveris, Victoria Clark, and Brian d'Arcy James. Danny Burstein was a cast replacement. The lobby of the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre was redecorated for the production: the complete passenger list of the Titanic was painted on the walls, noting those who ultimately survived the disaster. The set encompassed three levels to help form the impression of the size of the ship.
Orchestrator Jonathan Tunick won the first Tony Award for Best Orchestrations for his work on the score. The show received five Tony nominations, winning in all five categories, though the director, Richard Jones, was not nominated, nor were any of the performers.
The production toured the United States for 100 weeks after closing on Broadway, followed by several other tours with non-Equity performers. A Dutch touring production (European premiere) opened on 23 September 2001 in Royal Theatre Carre, Amsterdam. It was also highly successful, and produced an original cast recording (sung in Dutch) as a companion to the original Broadway cast recording on RCA Records. On 7 December 2002, a German production opened in Hamburg, a copy of the Dutch production. A cast recording was made in German. A new song was written for the German production, "Drei Tage" (Three Days), but the song was not included on cast album. It was recorded and released on a German karaoke CD called Professional Playbacks: Showtunes Vol. 1.
The Toronto, Canada version premiered in February 2006 and the Australian production starring Nick Tate as Captain Smith debuted in October 2006. The production made its UK premiere at York Theatre Royal. The musical made its London premiere in Bromley at the Churchill Theatre in 2004.
In Japan, a short one-month engagement played from January to February in early 2007. The premiere in Wales was performed 15–20 November 2004 at the Gwyn Hall by Neath Amateur Operatic Society.
On May 17, 2005, Belfast Operatic Company premiered the show in Ireland in the Grand Opera House, Belfast, Northern Ireland. The show ran from 17 May to 21 May with a cast and crew of more than 100 people.
On February 9, 2008, Ballinrobe Musical Society, under the direction of Noel Kirrane, performed the first ever production to take place in the Republic of Ireland. The show ran from 9 to 16 February and was sold out for the entire week, playing to over 3000 people in the process. Michael Coen played Captain Edward Smith. There were French productions in Belgium in the cities of Liege and Charleroi. The show premiered in Finland on 29 March 2008 in Seinajoki City Theatre.
On April 14 2010, Milton Musical Society, based in the south of england, embarked on a 5 show run that ended April 17th 2010. The show was performed at the Regent Centre, Christchurch, Hampshire. The show was seen by over 1400 people and received positive reviews from local theatre critics.[4]
On April 26, 2010, the musical company Scenario premiered the show in Kolbotn, Norway. The show ran from the 26th of April to the 12th of May.
Titanic has been translated into six languages: Japanese, French, Dutch, German, Finnish and Norwegian.
Plot
Act 1
The musical begins with Titanic 's designer, Thomas Andrews, talking about how mankind has, over the years, done magnificent things that have once seemed impossible to achieve (In Every Age), and how Titanic is their latest achievement. Stoker Fred Barret then arrives at the dock where the ship is and marvels at how it is an incredible feat of engineering (How Did They Build Titanic?), then gets joined by lookout Fredrick Fleet and wireless operator Harold Bride, who, while slowly joined by other crew members, gaze in awe at the "Ship of Dreams" (There She Is). Titanic 's passengers soon start boarding, first the third Class, then the second Class, all who feel privileged to be on board for the maiden voyage (I Must Get On That Ship). Then the First Class arrives, which consists of some of the most wealthy and powerful men in the world (First Class Roster) and Titanic finally departs, with her passengers and crew wishing for a safe crossing (Godspeed Titanic).
With Titanic now at sea its owner, J. Bruce Ismay, arrives on the bridge, informing Captain E. J. Smith that he plans for Titanic to arrive on Tuesday night, while Thomas Andrews insists that the maiden voyage must be a safe one. Smith allows Titanic 's speed to be increased but only a little. In the boiler room, Barrett receives the order to increase speed, which he doesn't believe should be done with such a new ship (Barrett's Song).
In second class, Alice Bean marvels at the grandeur that is First Class and dreams of being a part of it, while her husband Edgar, a successful hardware store owner, is content with the life they have. Also traveling are Charles Clark, who is traveling to America to become a journalist, and his fiance Caroline Neville, who is traveling with him to get married in America, since her father doesn't approve of their engagement. In First Class, the passengers marvel at all the accomplishments that man has achieved in only a few years, Titanic included (What A Remarkable Age This Is!). In third class, three Irish girls, all of whom are named Kate, talk, with the rest of third class, about their dreams of making it big in America (Lady's Maid). One of the Kate's, whose last name is McGowin, is also smitten with a young man traveling with them, Jim Farrell.
As the voyage continues, Ismay keeps demanding more and more speed to insure Titanic makes its scheduled arrival and Capt. Smith complies despite Andrews' objections and increasing warnings of ice coming. Meanwhile, 1st Officer Murdoch, who, as Capt. Smith has pointed out, is qualified to be a captain, but Murdoch feels he is not yet ready to handle the responsibilities of the job (To Be A Captain).
Meanwhile, in the wireless room, operator Harold Bride is overwhelmed by personal passenger messages to send, though he manages to handle a personal request from Fred Barrett to send a proposal for him to Barrett's girlfriend (The Proposal/The Night Was Alive).
On Sunday morning, the first class attends Sunday Mass (God Lift Me Up), then enjoys some dancing on deck, while being joined by Alice Bean, though she gets shooed away several times by a steward (The Latest Rag). Edgar then finds her and the two get into an argument over their desired lifestyles (I Have Danced). That evening, the air gets colder as Titanic gets closer and closer to ice and lookout Fred Fleet finds the weather conditions difficult to see possible icebergs (No Moon). On deck, Kate McGowin tells Jim Farrell that she wants to marry him, as she is pregnant due to an affair with a married man, and he accepts. Also, elder passengers Isidor and Ida Strauss discuss their plans for the years to come, while most of the first class men enjoy card games in the smoking room (Autumn). Suddenly, Fleet spots an iceberg ahead and warns the bridge. Murdoch, who is in charge for the night, takes evasive action, but Titanic strikes the iceberg as the First Act ends.
Act 2
After Titanic strikes the iceberg, stewards wake up the passengers, who are confused as to what the situation is about (Wake Up, Wake Up). On the bridge, Capt. Smith arrives and is informed of the situation. He orders all passengers ready to put on life jackets, for distress messages to be sent, and for Andrews to inspect the damage. Andrews returns and informs Smith and Ismay that Titanic is too damaged to stay afloat and will sink in no more than two hours, plus there are only enough room in the lifeboats for just under half of all passengers. In the first class dining salon, passengers deny anything is wrong and are annoyed at being awaken in the middle of the night (Dressed In Your Pyjamas In the Grand Salon). Crew members try to assure them nothing is wrong, until a food cart moves on its own, indicating Titanic 's list, and passengers are finally aware of the situation.
In 3rd class, the three Kates and Farrell try to find a way up to the boat deck, but are lost, with no one to help them, until Barrett, who knows how to get up top, assists them (The Staircase). Capt. Smith arrives to the radio room, where Bride informs him that only one ship, the Carpathia is close enough to help, but won't arrive until after Titanic is sunk. Smith, Andrews, and Ismay then get into an argument over who is responsible for the ship sinking (The Blame).
On deck, women and children are ordered to leave in the lifeboats, while the men are forced to stay behind (To The Lifeboats). Murdoch orders Fleet to be in the last lifeboat to help man the oars, and offers Barrett as spot as well, but Barrett says he doesn't know how to row, and allows Farrell, who can, to take his place. Barrett then expresses his goodbyes to his girlfriend while the rest of the passengers do the same to their loved ones (We'll Meet Tomorrow).
As the last of the lifeboats leave, the ones remaining accept their fate. Isidor and Ida, who had refused to board the lifeboat and leave him behind, affirm their long-lasting love for one another (Still). Andrews obsesses over possible redesigns for Titanic before then visualizing the final moments of Titanic and the people left on board (Mr. Andrews' Vision) before Titanic finally sinks, with 1,500 people still aboard.
In the morning, the survivors are rescued by Carpathia, and tell about the tragedy of Titanic. Many women mourn the loss of their men while the few men who survived, including Bride and Ismay, discuss the possibilities that could have averted disaster (The Floundering). The survivors then express their hope that they are still united with their lost loved ones in spirit as the musical ends.
Musical numbers
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Characters and original Broadway cast
While, arguably, the leading character of the musical is the ship itself, some of the characters on board were based upon actual passengers. Indeed, as is well-known, some of the passengers aboard the maiden voyage were wealthy and well-known businessmen, and many characters reflected that. Each of the named characters existed to some extent, though some names and circumstances were changed for dramatic purposes. The italicized names survived the shipwreck, and those to the right are the names of the actors that portrayed them in the original Broadway cast.
Awards and nominations
- Tony Awards
- Tony Award for Best Musical - Produced by Dodger Endemol Theatricals (Des McAnuff, Joop Van Den Ende, Michael David, Rocco Landesman, Doug Johnson, Robin De Levita, Ed Strong, Sherman Warner), Richard S. Pechter, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
- Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical - Peter Stone
- Tony Award for Best Original Score - Maury Yeston
- Tony Award for Best Scenic Design - Stewart Laing
- Tony Award for Best Orchestrations - Jonathan Tunick
- Drama Desk Awards
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Orchestrations - Jonathan Tunick
References
- ↑ Kalfatovic, Mary. "Maury Yeston", Contemporary Musicians (ed. Luann Brennan). Vol. 22, Gale Group, Inc., 1998
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 BMI Music World, Fall 1997, pp. 24-29
- ↑ Franklin, Nancy. New Yorker, May 12, 1997, pp. 102-03
- ↑ http://www.miltonmusical.org/past_shows.html Milton Musical Past Shows
External links
- Titanic at the Internet Broadway Database
- Tams-Witmark synopsis
- Short plot summary & casting breakdown
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ca:Titanic (musical) de:Titanic – Das Musical nl:Titanic (musical) ja:タイタニック (ミュージカル)
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